[GreenYes] one more time/Best Buy

[JudiGregry@aol.com]

Sorry, here's the whole article

Best Buy Announces Electronics Recycling Program

  
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2001--  

Company is First in Industry With Plan to "Complete the Loop" 

Best Buy, the nation's number one specialty retailer of consumer electronics, 
today announced plans to rollout a program that will allow consumers to 
recycle old electronic items at Best Buy stores. This marks the first time 
that a consumer electronics retailer has committed to providing its customers 
with electronics recycling opportunities nationally. 

Mike Linton, Best Buy Senior VP of Strategic Marketing, announced the Best 
Buy recycling program at a luncheon of the Fourth Electronics Product 
Recovery and Recycling (EPR2) Conference in Arlington, Virginia. The annual 
EPR2 Conference convenes leaders from government agencies, academia, 
nonprofit organizations, electronics manufacturers and recycling companies to 
exchange information about the latest developments in the recycling industry. 
The goal of the conference is to increase environmentally and economically 
responsible management of electronic products. 

"We're all in this together, because completing the recycling loop is 
everyone's responsibility," said Linton. "This is a topic of great importance 
to Best Buy customers. That's why we're responding with a simple, fun and 
convenient way to recycle obsolete electronic items with a system that 
protects the environment at the same time." 

The Best Buy recycling program allows consumers to drop off old and unwanted 
computers, monitors, televisions, VCR's and other electronic items at 
specific Best Buy stores during special collection weekends. A handling fee 
will be charged for each discarded item. Recycling companies will be 
contracted by Best Buy to carry out the recycling services. Best Buy will 
launch the program in selected states this summer and plans to expand into 
additional Best Buy communities over the next several years. Best Buy will 
also provide consumers with educational information about energy conservation 
practices, environmental issues and other recycling opportunities in their 
area. 

Currently, Best Buy is securing manufacturing, recycling and governmental 
partnerships. Together, they will establish a program that ensures an easy 
and accessible recycling experience for the public while effectively meeting 
all local, state and federal regulations and requirements. Best Buy has 
arranged for e4 Partners, a Minneapolis-based environmental strategy firm, to 
plan and coordinate the recycling events. Panasonic, which recently received 
a third consecutive ENERGY STAR(R) Partner of the Year award from the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, is the first 
manufacturer and Best Buy vendor to commit financial support to the 
initiative. 

The proper disposal of electronic items is an issue of growing significance 
in America. Getting rid of electronic products in an environmentally friendly 
manner can be difficult and expensive. Hazardous materials found in computers 
and televisions, such as mercury, lead and cadmium, make it a problem to just 
throw the products in the trash. Many schools and charitable organizations 
have restrictions on accepting donated equipment that cannot run current 
software. People wanting to get rid of these items and remain environmentally 
responsible are often confused or unsure about what to do. As the nation's 
leading consumer electronics retailer, Best Buy is committed to helping find 
innovative, smart solutions for its customers who use technology to make 
their time more enjoyable and productive. 

The impetus for the Best Buy electronics recycling program was the success of 
a test event conducted last fall at one of the Company's Minnesota stores. 
Best Buy and a recycling company worked with local government agencies and a 
waste management company on the pilot, which resulted in a two-day collection 
of 22 tons of old equipment, enough to fill two semi-truck trailers. 

Best Buy has a long-standing policy of recycling waste and other recyclables 
at all store locations nationwide. Best Buy works with a waste management 
company and complies with all city and state requirements to recycle 
materials such as cardboard, aluminum, plastic, glass and paper. 

Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) is the nation's number one 
specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment 
software and appliances. The Enterprise operates retail stores and commercial 
Web sites under the names: Best Buy, (BestBuy.com), Magnolia Hi-Fi, Media 
Play (MediaPlay.com), On Cue (OnCue.com), Sam Goody (SamGoody.com) and 
Suncoast (Suncoast.com). The Company reaches consumers through more than 
1,800 retail stores nationwide, in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. 

CONTACT:  

Best Buy Co., Inc., Minneapolis 

Jim McManus, (952) 996-4131                         

Jim.McManus@BestBuy.com                


Judi Gregory
2694 E. Garvey Ave S PMB322
West Covina, CA 91791
ph: 626-339-9555
fax: 626-974-9112
judigregry@aol.com